A NITI AAYOG study projects that the domestic food requirement grows by about 2.5 percent per year by 2047, while agricultural production could grow with 3 to 4 percent. This surplus must be absorbed by exports, which currently only make up 6-7 percent of the AGRI output.
The National Agricultural Research, Extension and Education System (Narees), led by Icar and State Agricultural Universities (SAUS), contributed to achieving self-sufficiency in food and milk.
However, trading remains a lack of connection in our agricultural research system. A scan of icar and sow projects shows a focus on productivity characteristics – yield, resistance, drought tolerance – while market signals, export standards and consumer preferences are hardly received.
Compliance gap
Despite our large research network, India is struggling to comply with high -quality markets.
Unido data (HS chapter 1–23) show that Australia, the EU and the United States have rejected Indian programs from 2020 to 22,553-more than Vietnam (789) and Thailand (702). In most rejections, pestic residues, antibiotics, fungal oxins and other PLC violations cited.
Good agricultural practices (gaps) have to reflect both domestic needs and international standards. Malance can be expensive. Consider chlorine pyrifos – a pesticide that is prohibited in the EU, Great Britain, Canada and Argentina, but is still approved for some crops in India.
At the beginning of 2025, the EU spent 18 warnings of Indian cumin, coriander, fennel and mangoes with chlorine pyro residues. Even rice in which it is approved, confronted warning messages to cross the borders.
This reflects a systemic error. If chlorine pydrifos are still in gaps, non -compliance is institutionalized. If not, its use shows a weak expansion and enforcement. What is “good” in Germany can no longer be enough worldwide. Our research and expansion systems have only slowly adapted and the farmers prepared unprepared for shift standards.
The global markets require more than food safety – also consumer taste, packaging and labeling.
For example, low-fiber mangos with BRIX values are preferred in the EU and in the USA. Most Indian varieties are high-fiber and high-brix (> 20 percent) ideal for domestic markets, but are not suitable for export.
The variety research must match the demand for exports in overseas.
India over 730 KVKs mainly focus on local concerns – pests, precipitation, sowing – no export data for MRLs, certifications or traceability. Private exporters and companies close some gaps and train farmers for compliance.
But efforts are stained. A public-private model is required to expand the scale and range.
At the core of this separation is outdated. Trade, value chains, non-tariff obstacles and food safety standards are hardly in AGRI curricula. The only UG course for marketing and trade skips through the development of global rules. Some PG programs in Agribusiness offer awareness, but most disciplines remain separated from trade concerns.
The result: the students are not taught a trade because the faculty has never been trained and the researchers concentrate on production due to limited exposure to trading problems.
Compare this with land grant universities in the USA or Wageningen in the Netherlands, where trade and sustainability for education and research are of central importance. Ironically, India’s Sauss were modeled on the US system, but were not kept step.
Some changes are underway – e.g. B. the publication of agricultural scientists in the Indian message to support export policy, which is initiated as part of the former ICAR leadership. The current leadership also focuses on the orientation of research with the global trade requirements, but deeper reforms in Narees are essential.
Three urgent steps
Research Research: Start of export-oriented programs with exporters and trade authorities after compliance, differentiation and value creation.
Upgrade expansion: Enable KVKS, export data for MRLs, PLC standards, certification and global trends.
Revise education: Add global trade, PLC/TBT standards and market information to the curricula. Training of the faculty and promote global links.
Exported agricultural growth is more than a booster for agricultural income-a strategic way to position India as a global food guide. If agriculture affects India’s growth, the institutions have to be modernized first. The restart of Narees is essential for a Viksit Bharat.
The writer is agricultural economist at the Department of Formation of Icar Agri. Expressions are personal
Published on June 14, 2025